US troops fire on radical cleric supporters-police

[sabra]

http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/L03398682.htm

US troops fire on radical cleric supporters-police

More BAGHDAD, Aug 3 (Reuters) - U.S. troops opened fire on a convoy carrying supporters of radical Shi'ite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr at a checkpoint south of Baghdad on Thursday, wounding at least 16 people, Iraqi police said.

The U.S. military said it was checking the report and had no immediate comment.

A Mahmudiya police source said the convoy, transporting Sadr supporters from the holy city of Najaf to Baghdad for a rally on Friday, had been passing by a U.S. base in the flashpoint town of Mahmudiya when the shooting took place.

He said the last five vehicles in the 13-vehicle convoy had ignored instructions at a traffic checkpoint, prompting the U.S. soldiers to open fire. He said one person was killed and 16 wounded. A police source in Baghdad said only 16 were wounded.

[ShortnFiery]

1. It is looking like staying in Iraq until the November election may

be increasingly difficult. Bring in the Chinooks for an extraction post haste?

[bemildred]

2. Well, this will help calm things down, eh?

:banghead:

[ewagner]

3. Well, that's pretty much "the ball game"

All we needed was to become openly hostile to one of the militia groups....if this doesn't trigger a full blown war against our troops, then nothing will....it will also, most likely, topple the government.....

sigh.....

what
have
we
done?

[sabra]

4. if this is true, this will give Sadr that ammo he's been looking for...

[ConcernedCanuk]

5. "ignored instructions at a traffic checkpoint," - aw yeah - SHOOT THEM!!

.
.
.

They don't do that if I run a traffic light in Canada - even if I try to outrun the cops!

And

seeing as it was the LAST five vehicles (which maybe they figured everything was ok cuz the previous 8 went through)

The Iraqis sure couldn't outrun anyone -

hafta pass them first 8

And these are Iraqis in their own country, right?

The USA are the invaders/occupiers

But they are teaching the Iraqis an important lesson

DON'T TRUST THE USA!!

Especially with your safety or your life

Sad,

But true

(sigh)